PT Update

"God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning]" Psalm 46:5 (Amp.).

Today at PT, Mary noticed that Mia has been walking and running crooked. She is taking normal steps with her right leg and shorter steps with her left leg - either to protect it or because she is in pain. Mary took some time to stretch and massage Mia's left knee and right elbow...Mia cried several times during the stretches. Also, her big toe on her right foot was very hot today...the swelling hasn't gone down in almost a year now and now her second toe on her left foot is also swollen. Also, her elbow seems to be a bit worse - not as straight as it was a month ago. It could be a result of the VERY cold weather we have been experiencing, but whatever it is, we need her to be back where she was a month ago because one week from tomorrow we head back into Boston to meet with Dr. Lopez (rheumatologist) and Dr. Yassir (orthopedist).

Mia's rheumatologist wants to start her on a steroid called methotrexate, a drug used to treat certain types of cancer. Here is a list of some of the serious side effects of methotrexate:

• dry cough, shortness of breath;
• diarrhea, vomiting, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• blood in your urine or stools;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• sore throat and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness; or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;
• dizziness, tired feeling;
• headache;
• bleeding of your gums; or
• blurred vision.

To me, side effects are side effects, whether great or small. No child should have to experience ANY side effects like the ones listed above. Mia is going through enough right now - she doesn't need to deal with additional issues on top of everything else she is dealing with.

So, please keep Mia in your prayers this week. I am just doing protein and fruits and veggies for her this week to see if that helps. And spending a lot of time praying. We are believing she is going to "wow" her doctors next week with the progress she has made.

P.S. Mia's PT measured the length of her legs yesterday. In some cases, the leg that is effected the most by JRA tends to grow faster than the other leg, causing a child to limp or walk crooked. Mia's legs are the same length. Praise God!